Post-processing in 3d printing systems

ABSTRACT

There are disclosed methods and apparatuses for 3D printing post-processing. The methods and apparatuses provide a container for an additive manufacturing system, the container for receiving a build volume of fused and unfused build material. The container comprises a connector for connecting the container to a pressure source, and at least one air hole to allow passage of air into or out of the container. When the connector is connected to the pressure source, there is generated a flow of air through the container between the connector and the at least one air hole so as to remove unfused build material from the container and to help cool the volume of build material.

There are disclosed methods and apparatuses for 3D printing post-processing. The methods and apparatuses facilitate extraction of unfused build material from a build volume and provide cooling of the build volume to improve post-processing of a 3D printed object.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The apparatuses and methods for post-processing a 3D printed object are shown in accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A schematically illustrates an example of a three dimensional (3D) printing system;

FIG. 1B schematically illustrates the material management station of the example of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 1C schematically illustrates a working area of the material management station of the example of FIG. 1B;

FIG. 2A schematically an internal circuit diagram of one example of a material management station;

FIG. 2B is a table schematically illustrating valve setting information for the material management station internal circuit of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 2C schematically illustrates a build material trap geometry used in tanks of the material management station internal circuit of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3 shows an example of the post-processing apparatus; and

FIG. 4 shows an example of a number of uses of the post-processing apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As shown in FIG. 1A, the three dimensional (3D) printing system 100 (or additive manufacturing system) according to one example comprises: a trolley 102, a 3D printer 104 and a material management station 106. The material management station 106 manages build material.

The trolley 102 is arranged to slot into a docking position in the printer 104 to allow the printer 104 to generate a 3D object within the trolley. The trolley is also arranged to also slot (at a different time) into a docking position 107 in the material management station 106. The trolley 102 may be docked in the material management station 106 prior to a 3D printing process to load the trolley with build material in preparation for a subsequent 3D printing process.

The build material loaded into the trolley may include recycled or recovered build material from one or more previous printing processes, fresh build material or a portion of fresh and recycled build material. Some build materials may be non-recyclable and hence in this case no recovered build material will be used to load the trolley. The build material may be or include, for example, powdered metal materials, powdered composited materials, powder ceramic materials, powdered glass materials, powdered resin material, powdered polymer materials and the like. In some examples where the build material is a powder-based build material, the term powder-based materials is intended to encompass both dry and wet powder-based materials, particulate materials and granular materials. It should be understood that the examples described herein are not limited to powder-based materials, and may be used, with suitable modification if appropriate, with other suitable build materials. In other examples, the build material may be in the form of pellets, or any other suitable form of build material, for instance.

Returning to FIG. 1A, the trolley 102 may also be docked in the docking position 107 in the material management station 106 (shown without the trolley 102 docked in FIG. 1A) to clean up at least some components of the trolley 102 after it has been used in a 3D printing production process. The clean-up process may involve recovery and storage in the material management station 106 of unfused build material from the previous print job for subsequent reuse. During a 3D printing process a portion of the supplied build material may be fused to form the 3D object, whilst a remaining portion of the supplied build material may remain unfused and potentially recyclable, depending upon the type of build material used. Some processing of the unfused build material may be performed by the material management station 106 prior to storage for recycling, to reduce any agglomeration for example.

It will be understood that the material management station 106 may also include an access panel (not shown) to cover the docking position 107 when the trolley 102 is fully docked with the material management station 106 and when the trolley 102 is fully removed from the material management station 106,

One material management station 106 can be used to service one or more different 3D printers. A given 3D printer may interchangeably use one or more trolleys 102, for example, utilising different trolleys for different build materials. The material management station 106 can purge a trolley 102 of a given build material after a 3D printing production process, allowing it to be filled with a different build material for a subsequent 3D printing production run. Purging of the trolley 102 may also involve purging of the material management station 106 or alternatively, it may involve separation of different build materials in the material management station 106 to prevent contamination of one build material type with another.

The trolley 102 in this example has a build platform 122 on which an object being manufactured is constructed. The trolley 102 also comprises a build material store 124 situated beneath a build platform 122 in this example. The build platform 122 may be arranged to have an actuation mechanism (not shown) allowing it, when it is docked in the printer 104 and during a 3D printing production process, to gradually move down, such as in a step-wise manner, towards the base of the trolley 102 as the printing of the 3D object progresses and as the build material store 124 within the trolley 102 becomes depleted. This provides progressively more distance between the base level of the build platform 122 and the print carriages (not shown) to accommodate the 3D object being manufactured. The size of an object being printed may increase progressively as it is built up layer-by-layer in the 3D printing process in this example.

The 3D printer 104 of this example can generate a 3D object by using a build material depositor carriage (not shown) to form layers of build material onto the build platform 122. Certain regions of each deposited layer are fused by the printer 104 to progressively form the object according to object-specifying data. The object-specifying data are based on a 3D shape of the object and may also provide object property data such as strength or roughness corresponding to the whole object or part(s) of the 3D object. In examples, the desired 3D object properties may also be supplied to the 3D printer 104 via a user interface, via a software driver or via predetermined object property data stored in a memory.

After a layer of the build material has been deposited on the build platform 122 by the printer 104, a page-wide array of thermal (or piezo) printheads on a carriage (not shown) of the 3D printer 104 can traverse the build platform 122 to selectively deposit a fusing agent in a pattern based on where particles of the build material are to fuse together. Once the fusing agent has been applied, the layer of build material may be exposed to fusing energy using one or more heating elements (not shown) of the 3D printer 104. The build material deposition, fusing agent and fusing energy application process may be repeated in successive layers until a complete 3D object has been generated. The material management station 106 may be used with any additive manufacturing technique and is not limited to printers using printheads on a carriage to deposit a fusing agent as in the example described above. For example, the material management station 106 may be used with a selective laser sintering additive manufacturing technique.

FIG. 1B schematically illustrates the material management station 106 of the example of FIG. 1A, with the trolley 102 of FIG. 1A docked therein.

As shown in the example of FIG. 1B, the material management station 106 has two interfaces for receiving two fresh build material supply tanks (or cartridges) 114 a, 114 b, which may be releasably insertable in the material management station 106. In this example, each fresh build material supply tank 114 a, 114 b has a capacity of between about thirty and fifty litres. In one example, the build material may be a powdered semi-crystalline thermoplastic material. The provision of two fresh build material supply tanks 114 a, 114 b allows “hot swapping” to be performed such that if a currently active container becomes empty or close to empty of build material when the trolley 102 is being filled with build material by the material management station 106 in preparation for an additive manufacturing process, a fresh build material supply source can be dynamically changed to the other of the two tanks. The material management system 106 may have one or more weight measurement device(s) to assess how much fresh build material is present at a given time in one or more of the fresh build material supply tanks 114 a, 114 b. The fresh build material from the tanks 114 a, 114 b, may be consumed, for example, when loading the trolley 102 with build material prior to the trolley 102 being installed in the printer 104 for a 3D printing production run.

Build material is moved around within the material management station 106 in this example using a vacuum system (described below with reference to FIG. 2A), which promotes cleanliness within the system and allows for recycling of at least a portion of build material between successive 3D printing jobs, where the type of build material selected for use is recyclable. References to a vacuum system in this specification include a vacuum that is partial vacuum or a pressure that is reduced, for example, relative to atmospheric pressure. The vacuum may correspond to “negative pressure”, which can be used to denote pressures below atmospheric pressure in a circuit surrounded by atmospheric pressure.

A total trolley-use time for printing of a 3D object before trolley 102 can be reused may depend upon both a printing time of the printer 104 when the trolley 102 is in the printer 104 and a cooling time of the contents of the build volume of the trolley 102. It will be understood that the trolley 102 can be removed from the printer 104 after the printing operation, allowing the printer 104 to be re-used for a further printing operation using build material within a different trolley before the total trolley-use time has elapsed. The trolley 102 can be moved to the material management station 106 at the end of the printing time. The vacuum system can be used, in some examples, to promote more rapid cooling of the contents of the build volume following a 3D print production process than would otherwise occur without the vacuum system. Alternative examples to the vacuum system such as a compressed air system can create excess dust, potentially making the clean-up process more difficult.

The material management station 106 in this example has a recovered build material tank 108 (see FIG. 1B), located internally, where build material recovered from the trolley 102 by the vacuum system is stored for subsequent reuse, if appropriate. Some build materials may be recyclable whilst others may be non-recyclable. In an initial 3D printing production cycle, 100% fresh build material may be used. However, on second and subsequent printing cycles, depending upon build material characteristics and user choice, the build material used for the print job may comprise a proportion of fresh build material (e.g. 20%) and a portion of recycled build material (e.g. 80%). Some users may elect to use mainly or exclusively fresh build material on second and subsequent printing cycles, for example, considering safeguarding a quality of the printed object. The internal recovered build material tank 108 may become full during a post-production clean-up process, although it may become full after two or more post-production clean up processes have been performed, but not before. Accordingly, an overflow tank in the form of an external overflow tank 110 can be provided as part of the material management station 106 to provide additional capacity for recovered build material for use once the internal recovered build material tank 108 is full or close to full capacity. Alternatively, the external overflow tank 110 can be a removable tank. In this example, one or more ports are provided as part of the material management station 106 to allow for output of or reception of build material to and/or from the external overflow tank 110. A sieve 116 or alternative build material refinement device may be provided for use together with the internal recovered build material tank 108 to make unfused build material recovered from a 3D printing production process for recycling more granular, that is, to reduce agglomeration (clumping).

The material management station 106 in this example has a mixing tank (or blending tank) 112 comprising a mixing blade (not shown) for mixing recycled build material from the internal recovered build material tank 108 with fresh build material from one of the fresh build material supply tanks 114 a, 114 b for supply to the trolley 102 when it is loaded prior to a printing production process. The mixing tank (or blending tank) 112, in this example, is provided on top of the material management station 106, above the location of the build platform 122 when the trolley 102 is docked therein. The mixing tank 112 is connected to a mixer build material trap 113 (described below with reference to FIG. 2A) for input of build material into the mixing tank 112.

The fresh build material supply tanks 114 a, 114 b, the external overflow tank 110 and the main body of the material management station 106 may be constructed to fit together in a modular way, permitting a number of alternative geometrical configurations for the fully assembled material management station 106. In this way, the material management station 106 is adaptable to fit into different housing spaces in a manufacturing environment.

The fresh build material supply tanks 114 a, 114 b may be releasably connected to the main body of the material management station 106 via respective supply tank connectors 134 a, 134 b. These supply tank connectors 134 a, 134 b may incorporate a security system to reduce the likelihood of unsuitable build material being used in the 3D printing system. In one example, suitable fresh build material supply tanks 114 a, 114 b are provided with a secure memory chip, which can be read by a chip reader (not shown) or other processing circuitry on the main body of the material management station 106 to verify the authenticity of any replacement supply tank (cartridge) 114 a, 114 b that has been installed. In this example, the chip reader may be provided on the supply tank connectors 134 a, 134 b and upon attachment of the fresh build material supply tanks 114 a, 114 b to the respective connector 134 a, 134 b, an electrical connection may be formed. The processing circuitry in the material management station 106 may also be used to write a measured weight of build material determined to be in the respective fresh build material supply tank(s) 114 a, 114 b onto the secure memory chip of the tank to store and/or update that value. Thus, the amount of authorised build material remaining in the fresh build material supply tank(s) 114 a, 114 b at the end of a trolley loading process can be recorded. This allows the withdrawal of particulate build material from the fresh build material supply tanks 114 a, 114 b beyond the quantity with which it was filled by the manufacturer to be prevented. For example, in the case of a fresh build material supply tank 114 a, 114 b from which the tank manufacturer's authorised fresh build material has previously been completely withdrawn, this prevents the withdrawal of further build material that may damage the printer or print quality, if the fresh build material supply tank were re-filled with alternative fresh build material.

The secure memory chip of the fresh build material supply tanks 114 a, 114 b can store a material type of the build material contained within the fresh build material supply tanks. In one example, the material type is the material (e.g. ceramic, glass, resin, etc.). In this way, the material management station 106 can determine the material type to be used by the material management station 106.

FIG. 1C schematically illustrates a working area of the material management station 106 of the example of FIG. 1B, showing the build platform 122 of the trolley 102 and a build material loading hose 142, which provides a path between the mixing tank 112 of FIG. 1B and the build material store 124 of the trolley 102. The loading hose 142 is used for loading the trolley 102 with build material prior to the trolley 102 being used in the printer 104. FIG. 10 also shows a recycling hose 144 for unpacking manufactured 3D objects, cleaning the build platform 122 of the trolley 102 and a surrounding working area within the material management station 106. In one example, the recycling hose 144 operates by suction provided via a pump 204 (see FIG. 2A) and provides an enclosed path to the recovered build material tank 108 (see FIG. 1B) for receiving and holding build material for re-use in a subsequent 3D printing process. The recycling hose 144 may, in one example, be operated manually by a user to recover recyclable build material from and/or to clean up a working area of the material management station 106.

FIG. 2A schematically illustrates an internal circuit diagram 200 of one example of a build material management system in the form of a material management station 106. The material management station 106 can be used in conjunction with the trolley 102 of FIG. 1A,

As previously described, printed parts along with unfused build material can be transported from the 3D printer 104 to the material management station 106 via the trolley 102. The material management station 106 can then be used to process build material and printed parts from the trolley 102.

In another example, printed parts along with unfused build material can be transported from the 3D printer 104 to the material management station 106 via another suitable container, e.g. a box or cartridge (not shown) instead of the trolley 102. The material management station 106 may then be used to process the powder-based material and printed parts from the container.

The material management station circuit 200 includes a conduit (or guide-channel) network and a pump 204 to provide a pressure differential across the conduit network to transport unfused build material between different components, as described below with reference to FIG. 2A. In this example, the pump 204 is a suction pump which operates to create a pressure differential across the suction pump to produce air flow from an air inlet at substantially atmospheric pressure through the conduit network towards an upstream side of the suction pump (at a pressure below atmospheric pressure or at “negative pressure”). The pump 204 may be provided as an integral part of the material management station 106 in one example, but in another example, the material management station 106 provides a negative/reduced pressure interface, via which a suction pump may be detachably coupled or coupled in a fixed configuration. Although the description below refers to first conduit, second conduit, third conduit, etc. of the conduit network, there is no implied ordering in the number of the conduits other than to distinguish one conduit from another.

A collection hose 206 is connected to a recovered build material tank (RBMT) 208 via a working area port in a working area 203 in the form of a working area inlet port 273 and a first conduit (hose-to-RBMT conduit) 272 of the conduit network. The recovered build material tank 208 includes a recovered build material tank (RBMT) inlet area comprising a recovered build material tank (RBMT) build material trap 218 b and a recovered build material tank (RBMT) material outlet. The RBMT inlet area is where a fluidised flow of build material is received for storage in the recovered build material tank 208. The first conduit 272 provides a path between the working area inlet port 273 and the RBMT inlet area. The working area inlet port 273 is to receive build material from the collection hose 206 and is provided at an end of the first conduit 272 connected to the collection hose 206. In other examples, the RBMT inlet area may communicate directly with the working area 203 or the collection hose 206 without a first conduit 272 between.

The recovered build material tank 208 in this example is provided internally to the material management station 106. A hose-to-RBMT valve 242 is positioned along the first conduit 272 for opening and closing the path through the first conduit 272. The collection hose 206 extends from the working area inlet port 273 into the working area 203. The working area 203 includes at least a portion of the trolley 102 (or other container) and can be maintained at substantially atmospheric pressure. Build material from the trolley 102 can be collected by the collection hose 206 and transported to the recovered build material tank 208 through the first conduit 272. The recovered build material tank 208 can be used for storing any unfused build material from the trolley 102 that is suitable for being used again in a further 3D printing (additive manufacturing) process. In this way, the recovered build material tank 208 can be used as a buffer storage tank to temporarily store unfused build material prior to supplying the unfused build material for use in a further 3D printing (additive manufacturing) process.

A second conduit 274 (hose-to-overflow conduit) of the conduit network connects the collection hose 206 to an overflow tank 210. The overflow tank 210 includes an overflow inlet area and the second conduit 274 provides a path between the collection hose 206 and the overflow inlet area comprising, in this example, an overflow build material trap 218 a (a filter). An overflow tank port in the form of an overflow tank outlet port 275 may also be provided at an end of the second conduit 274. The overflow tank 210 can be selectively sealed by an openable lid (not shown). In a sealed configuration, the overflow tank 210 is in fluid communication with one or more overflow inlet ports and overflow outlet ports of the conduit network. Furthermore, in the sealed configuration, the overflow tank 210 is not directly open to the atmosphere. Build material from the working area 203 can be transported through the second conduit 274 and overflow tank outlet port 275 into the overflow tank 210. A hose-to-overflow valve 244 is positioned along the second conduit 274 for opening and closing a path through the second conduit 274. Unfused build material from the trolley 102 (or other container) can be collected by the collection hose 206 and transported to the overflow tank 210 through the first conduit 272. The overflow tank 210 is an external tank that is removable and that can be used for storing excess recoverable (recyclable) build material when the recovered build material tank 208 is full. Alternatively, the overflow tank 210 can be used as a waste storage tank to store unfused build material from the trolley 102 that is not suitable for recycling. In a further alternative, the overflow tank 210 can be used as a purged build material storage tank to store unfused build material from the trolley 102 and from elsewhere in the material management station 106 when the material management station 106 is purged of unfused build material.

The pump 204 is connected via a third conduit (pump-to-RBMT conduit) 276 of the conduit network to the recovered build material tank 208. The third conduit 276 provides a path between the pump 204 and the RBMT inlet area. A RBMT-to-pump valve 246 is positioned along the third conduit 276 for opening and closing the path through the third conduit 276.

The pump 204 is also connected to the overflow tank 210 via a fourth conduit (pump-to-overflow conduit) 278 of the conduit network. The fourth conduit 278 provides a path between the pump 204 and the overflow inlet area. An overflow tank port in the form of an overflow tank vacuum port 279 may also be provided at an end of the fourth conduit 278. Fluid, e.g. air, can transmit through the overflow tank vacuum port 279 from the overflow inlet area towards the pump 204. An overflow-to-pump valve 248 is positioned along the fourth conduit 278 for opening and closing a path through the fourth conduit 278.

Unfused build material in the trolley 102 can be collected using the collection hose 206 and transported either to the recovered build material tank 208 or to the overflow tank 210, or both. The tank to be used at a given time can be selected by opening appropriate valves along the conduits of the circuit of FIG. 2A.

The valves described herein with reference to FIG. 2A may be controlled by a controller 295, which may be, for example a programmable logic controller forming a part of processing circuitry of the build material management station 106. The controller 295 may electronically open one or more valves to open one or more paths in respective conduits based on the material transport operation being performed. The controller 295 may also electronically close one or more valves to close one or more paths in respective conduits. The valves may be, for example, butterfly valves and may be actuated using compressed air. In another example, one or more valves may be opened and closed manually by a user.

The controller controls the general operation of the material management system 200. The controller may be a microprocessor-based controller that is coupled to a memory (not shown), for example via a communications bus (not shown). The memory stores machine executable instructions. The controller 295 may execute the instructions and hence control operation of the build material management system 200 in accordance with those instructions.

FIG. 2B is a table schematically illustrating for each of a number of different build material source locations and build material destination locations, an appropriate valve configuration corresponding the valves as labelled in FIG. 2A. A tick in an appropriate column of the table indicates that the corresponding valve is controlled to be open by the controller 295 for the particular build material transport operation. For example, when transporting build material from the recovered build material tank 208 to the mixing tank 212, the valves 256, 258 and 254 are set by the controller 295 to be open, whereas the valves 250, 244, 276, 248, 242, 262, 260, 252 a and 252 b are set to be closed. In alternative examples, some valves may be set to be open by simultaneity.

In an example, a recyclability indicator is determined by processing circuitry of the build material management station 106. The recyclability indicator can be indicative of whether the build material in the trolley 102 (or container) includes recyclable or recoverable material. When it is determined that the unfused build material in the trolley 102 is not recyclable or when the recovered build material tank 208 is full, the unfused build material can be transported to the overflow tank 210.

To transport the unfused build material from the trolley 102 (or container) to the overflow tank 210, the hose-to-overflow valve 244 in the second conduit 274 between the collection hose 206 and the overflow tank 210 and the overflow-to-pump valve 248 in the fourth conduit 278 between the pump 204 and the overflow tank 210 can be opened, e.g. electronically by the controller 295. When the pump is active, a differential pressure is provided from the pump to the collection hose 206. That is, a pressure at the pump 204 is lower than a pressure at the collection hose 206. The differential pressure enables build material from the trolley 102 (or container) to be transported to the overflow tank 210. Build material (and air) in proximity with an end of the collection hose 206 (at approximately atmospheric pressure) is transported from the collection hose 206, along the second conduit 274 and through the hose-to-overflow valve 244 to overflow tank 210. The overflow tank 210 is provided in the sealed configuration. At the overflow tank 210, build material separates from air flow and drops from the overflow inlet area into the overflow tank 210. Air (and any residual build material) continues along the fourth conduit 278 and through the overflow-to-pump valve 248 towards the pump 204, which is at a reduced pressure.

To help prevent unfused build material traveling through the overflow inlet area of the overflow tank 210 into the fourth conduit 278 towards the pump 204, the overflow inlet area can include an overflow build material trap 218 a (e.g. a powder trap). The overflow build material trap 218 a is arranged to collect build material from the second conduit 274 and divert the build material (e.g. powder) into the overflow tank 210. Thus, the overflow build material trap 218 a helps prevent build material conveying past the overflow inlet area of the overflow tank 210 and entering the fourth conduit 278 via the overflow tank vacuum port 279 to travel towards the pump 204.

The overflow build material trap 218 a may include a filter (e.g. a mesh), which collects build material transported from the overflow tank 210. Thus, the filter separates build material from air flow in the overflow inlet area. Holes in the filter are small enough to prevent the passage of at least 95% of build material but allow relatively free flow of air through the filter. Holes in the filter may be small enough to prevent the passage of at least 99% of build material, whilst still allowing relatively free flow of air through the filter. Build material collected by the filter may drop from the overflow inlet area into the overflow tank 210.

Recoverable unfused build material in the trolley 102 (or container) can be transported to the recovered build material tank 208 in a similar way. To transport the unfused build material from the trolley 102 to the recovered build material tank 208, the hose-to-RBMT valve 242 in the first conduit 272 between the collection hose 206 and the recovered build material tank 208 and the RBMT-to-pump valve 246 in the third conduit 276 between the pump 204 and the recovered build material tank 208 can be opened electronically by the controller 295 as described above. When the pump is active, a differential pressure is provided from the pump to the collection hose 206. That is, a pressure at the pump 204 is lower than a pressure at the collection hose 206. The differential pressure enables build material from the trolley 102 (or container) to be transported to the recovered build material tank 208. Build material (and air) in proximity with an end of the collection hose 206 (at approximately atmospheric pressure) is transported from the collection hose 206, along the first conduit 272 and through the hose-to-RBMT valve 242 to the recovered build material tank 208. At the recovered build material tank 208, build material separates from air flow and drops from the RBMT inlet area into the recovered build material tank 208. Air (and any residual build material) continues along the third conduit 276 and through the RBMT-to-pump valve 246 towards the pump 204, which is at reduced pressure relative to atmospheric pressure.

Each of the recovered build material tank 208, the overflow tank 210, and the mixing tank 212 has a build material trap 218 b, 218 a and 218 c respectively. These build material traps 218 a, 218 b, 218 c perform cyclonic filtration of an incoming fluidised flow of build material and air as schematically illustrated in FIG. 2C. An inlet 296 of the build material trap 218 receives the fluidised flow of build material and the build material is pushed by a centrifugal force created by suction of the pump 204 to an outer wall 297 of the build material trap 218. In one example, the outer wall 297 of the build material trap 218 has a circular cross-section and the incoming build material migrates via a cyclonic action to the outer wall 297 of the build material trap 218 until the incoming air reaches an exit below, whereupon the build material particles drop down into a vacuum sealed recipient 299 in the build material trap 218. Thus the build material trap 218 separates a fluidised flow of build material into a powder component, which is deposited in the associated tank and an air component, which is sucked towards the pump 204 via an air outlet 298 in the build material trap 218 providing an interface to the pump 204. A filter (not shown) may be provided in the air outlet 298 of the build material trap 218 to reduce the likelihood of any remaining build material reaching the pump 204 in the separated air flow. The build material trap 218 provides efficient powder separation via its geometry that promotes formation of a cyclone within the build material trap in use. It offers transportation of build material in an air flow and storage of the powder in a tank, whilst diverting an air flow out of the tank towards the pump 204. The build material trap provides a filter to capture residual powder in an air flow emerging from the cyclone to prevent it from reaching the pump 204. The build material trap 218 is one example of a build material filter having a function of separating an air from a build material flow at a corresponding tank inlet area. In other examples, the air flow is separated from the fluidised build material upon arrival at a destination tank using a filter other than a cyclonic filter. For example, a diffusion filter may be used.

Returning to FIG. 2A, the RBMT inlet area of the recovered build material tank 208 may also include the RBMT build material trap 218 b (e.g. a powder trap) or another type of RBMT build material filter to separate build material and air from an incoming fluidised flow of build material. The RBMT build material trap 218 b operates in the same or a similar way as the overflow build material trap 218 a in the overflow tank 210, to help collect and divert build material into the recovered build material tank 208 to help prevent build material from traveling through the third conduit 276 towards the pump 204.

When collecting material from the trolley 102 via the collection hose 206, as described above, a user can move the end of the collection hose 206 around the working area 203 including the trolley 102 to collect as much build material from the trolley 102 as possible.

The recovered build material tank 208 is also connected via a fifth conduit (overflow-to-RBMT conduit) 280 of the conduit network. An overflow tank port in the form of an overflow tank inlet port 281 may also be provided at an end of the fifth conduit 280. Build material from the overflow tank 210 can be transported through the fifth conduit 280 and overflow tank inlet port 281 into the recovered build material tank 208.

The fifth conduit 280 between the recovered material tank 208 and the overflow tank inlet port 281 includes an overflow-to-RBMT valve 250 in the path leading to the RBMT build material trap. In the event that the recovered build material tank 208 needs to be refilled with recovered build material, the overflow-to-RBMT valve 250 in the fifth conduit 280 between the recovered build material tank 208 and the overflow tank 210 can be opened, along with the RBMT-to-pump valve 246 in the third conduit 276 between the recovered build material tank 208 and the pump 204. Each of the valves can be opened electronically by the controller 295, as described above. When the pump is active, a differential pressure is provided from the pump to the overflow tank 210. That is, a pressure at the pump 204 is lower than a pressure at the overflow tank 210. In this example, the overflow tank 210 is provided in an unsealed configuration and includes an air inlet (not shown) open to atmosphere to maintain approximately atmospheric pressure within the overflow tank 210. The differential pressure enables build material from the overflow tank 210 to be transported to the recovered build material tank 208. Air flows into the overflow tank 210 through the air inlet. Build material (and air) in the overflow tank is transported from the overflow tank 210, along the fifth conduit 280 and through the overflow-to-RBMT valve 250 to the recovered build material tank 208. At the recovered build material tank 208, build material separates from air flow and drops from the RBMT inlet area into the recovered build material tank 208. Air (and any residual build material) continues along the third conduit 276 and through the RBMT-to-pump valve 246 towards the pump 204, which is at a reduced pressure.

The material management station circuit 200 also includes a mixing tank 212. The mixing tank 212 can be used to mix recovered build material from the recovered build material tank 208 with fresh build material from a fresh build material supply tank 214 a or 214 b, ready to be used in a 3D printing process.

Although two fresh build material supply tanks 214 a, 214 b are shown in this example, in other examples, one or more fresh build material supply tanks 214 a, 214 b may be used. More fresh build material supply tanks 214 a, 214 b may be used when appropriate.

Each fresh build material supply tank 214 a, 214 b is connected to the mixing tank 212 via a sixth conduit (a fresh build material conduit) 282 of the conduit network and a fresh build material supply tank port 283 a, 283 b. The fresh build material supply tank port 283 a, 283 b is to output build material from the respective fresh build material supply tank 214 a, 214 b. Each fresh build material supply tank 214 a, 214 b has an associated material supply tank cartridge-to-mixer valve 252 a, 252 b in the sixth conduit 282 between the respective fresh build material supply tank 214 a, 214 b and the mixing tank 212. Each fresh build material supply tank 214 a, 214 b also includes an air inlet valve whereby to ensure air can enter the fresh build material supply tanks 214 a, 214 b to maintain air pressure within the fresh build material supply tanks 214 a, 214 b at approximately atmospheric pressure.

The mixing tank 212 is connected via a seventh conduit (pump-to-mixer conduit) 284 of the conduit network to the pump 204. The seventh conduit 284 between the mixing tank 212 and the pump 204 includes a mixer-to-pump valve 254, which may be opened or closed to open and close the passage through the seventh conduit 284.

To transport fresh build material from the fresh build material supply tank 214 a or 214 b to the mixing tank 212, the material supply tank cartridge-to-mixer valve 252 a or 252 b and the mixer-to-pump valve 254 in the seventh conduit 284 between the mixing tank 212 and the pump 204 are opened. Each of the valves can be opened electronically by the controller 295, as described above. When the pump 204 is active, a differential pressure is provided from the pump 204 to the fresh build material supply tank 214 a or 214 b. That is, a pressure at the pump 204 is lower than a pressure at the fresh build material supply tank 214 a or 214 b.

The differential pressure enables build material from the fresh build material supply tank 214 a or 214 b to be transported to the mixing tank 212. Build material (and air) in the fresh build material supply tank 214 a or 214 b is transported from the fresh build material supply tank 214 a or 214 b, along the sixth conduit 282 and through the cartridge-to-mixer valve 252 a or 252 b to the mixing tank 212. At the mixing tank 212, build material separates from air flow and drops from the mixer inlet area into the mixing tank 212. Air (and any residual build material) continues along the seventh conduit 284 and through the mixer-to-pump valve 254 towards the pump 204, which is at a reduced pressure.

The mixer inlet area of the mixing tank 212 can also include a mixer build material trap 218 c (e.g. a powder trap) or any type of mixer build material filter to separate an air flow from a build material flow, which operates in the same or similar manner to as the overflow build material trap 218 a and the RBMT build material trap 218 b. The mixer build material trap 218 c helps to collect and divert build material into the mixing tank 212, and help prevent the build material from travelling through the seventh conduit 284 towards the pump 204.

The mixing tank 212 is also connected to the recovered build material tank 208 via an eighth conduit (RBMT-to-mixer conduit) 286 of the conduit network and a ninth conduit 288 of the conduit network extending sequentially from the recovered build material tank 208 to the mixing tank 212. The ninth conduit 288 may be part of the RBMT-to-mixer conduit 286.

A sieve 216 may, in some examples, be located in the RBMT to mixer conduit 286 or between the eighth and ninth conduits 286 and 288 between the recovered build material tank 208 and the mixing tank 212. The sieve 216 may be used to separate agglomerates and larger parts of material from the recycled or recovered build material that is transported from the recovered build material tank 208. Often, agglomerates and larger parts of material are not suitable for recycling in a further 3D printing process, so the sieve may be used to remove these parts from the build material. The sieve 216 includes an air inlet (not shown) to ensure air can enter the sieve 216 to maintain air pressure within the sieve 216 at approximately atmospheric pressure. In some examples, the RBMT-to-mixer conduit 286 may not be connected to a build material outlet of the recovered build material tank 208. In other examples a conduit connecting an outlet of the recovered build material tank 208 to a build material inlet in the mixer build material trap 218 c of the mixing tank 212 may form a closed circuit.

A RBMT-to-sieve valve 256 is located in the eighth conduit 286 between the recovered build material tank 208 and the sieve 216, and a sieve-to-mixer valve 258 is located in the ninth conduit 288 between the sieve 216 and the mixing tank 212. The RBMT-to-sieve valve 256 and sieve-to-mixer valve 258 may be opened or closed to open and close the passages through the eighth and ninth conduits 286, 288 between the recovered build material tank 208 and the mixing tank 212. The valves may be opened or closed electronically by the controller 295.

To transport build material from the recovered build material tank 208 to the mixing tank 212 both the RBMT-to-sieve valve 256 and the sieve-to-mixer valve 258 in the eighth and ninth conduits 286, 288 between the recovered build material tank 208 and the mixing tank 212 can be opened as well as the mixer-to-pump valve 254 in the seventh conduit 284 that connects the mixing tank 212 to the pump 204. Build material in the recovered build material tank 208 may drop down into the sieve 216 through the eighth conduit 286 by gravity, for example. When the pump 204 is active, a differential pressure is provided from the pump 204 to the sieve 216. That is, a pressure at the pump 204 is lower than a pressure at the sieve 216. The differential pressure enables build material from the recovered build material tank 208 to be transported to the sieve 216 by gravity and to the mixing tank 212 by suction. Build material in the recovered build material tank 208 is transported through the RBMT material outlet, along the eighth conduit 286 and through the RBMT-to-sieve valve 256 to the sieve 216. Build material (and air) in the sieve 216 is transported from the sieve 216, along the ninth conduit 288 and through the sieve-to-mixer valve 258 to the mixing tank 212. At the mixing tank 212, build material separates from air flow and drops from the mixer inlet area into the mixing tank 212. Air (and any residual build material) continues along the seventh conduit 284 and through the mixer-to-pump valve 254 towards the pump 204, which is at a reduced (negative) pressure.

A currently selected ratio of recycled build material from the recovered build material tank 208 and fresh build material from the fresh build material supply tank 214 a or 214 b can be transported to the mixing tank 212 as described above. The ratio of fresh build material to recovered build material may be any selected ratio. The ratio may depend on the type of build material and/or the type of additive manufacturing process. In a selective laser sintering process the ratio could be, for example 50% fresh to 50% recovered build material. In one example of a printhead cartridge 3D printing process, the ratio may be 80% recovered to 20% fresh build material. For some build materials 100% fresh build material may be used, but for other build materials up to 100% recovered build material may be used. The fresh build material and the recovered build material can be mixed together within the mixing tank 212 using, for example, a rotating mixing blade 213.

Once the fresh build material and the recovered build material are sufficiently mixed, the mixed build material can be transported from the mixing tank 212 through a mixer-to-trolley valve 260, a tenth conduit (mixer-to-trolley conduit) 290 of the conduit network, a working area port in the form of a working area outlet port 291, to the working area 203 and into the trolley 102. Build material from the mixing tank 212 can pass through the working area outlet port 291 into the working area 203. The trolley 102 (or container) can be located substantially beneath the mixing tank 212 so that gravity can aid the transport of mixed build material from the mixing tank 212, through the mixer-to-trolley valve 260, the tenth conduit 290, the working area outlet port 291 and the working area 203 to the trolley 102.

Once the trolley 102 is filled with enough build material for a given 3D print run, the trolley 102 can be returned to the 3D printer 104. An appropriate quantity of build material to fill the trolley 102 for a print job may be controlled by the controller 295 of the material management station 106 based on the material management station 106 sensing how much build material is in the trolley when the trolley is docked in the material management station 106 at the beginning of a trolley fill workflow. The controller may then fill the trolley with a particular quantity (dose) of build material requested by a user for a particular print job intended by the user. The dosing is achieved by using a fill level sensor (not shown) such as a load cell in the mixing tank 212 to output a fill level value indicative of an amount of non-fused build material in the mixing tank. The fill level sensor can be one or more load cells, or any other type of sensor such as a laser-based sensor, a microwave sensor, a radar, a sonar, a capacitive sensor, etc.,.

When the fill level sensor is a load cell, the fill level value can be an electrical signal indicative of a mass of the non-fused build material in the storage container.

A number of different workflows may be implemented in the material management station 106. These workflows are managed by the user, but some level of automation may be provided by a data processor on the material management station 106. For example, the user may select a workflow from a digital display on the material management station 106. For users having one material management station 106 and one printer 104 an example workflow cycle may be filling the trolley 102, followed by printing a 3D object, followed by unpacking the object from a build volume in the material management station 106 followed by a subsequent print operation and a corresponding unpacking of the build volume and so on. However, the material management station 106 may serve two or more printers so that successive unpacking and trolley filling operations may be performed by the material management station 106. The user may also choose to perform the trolley filling, printing and unpacking functions in a random order.

For each of the workflow operations, a user interface of the material management station 106 may guide the user to undertake particular manual operations that may be performed as part of the workflow operation. For example, to perform an unpack operation, the user interface may instruct the user to move the collection hose 206 around the collection area 203 as described previously. In addition, the material management station 106 can automatically initiate other functions of the workflow operation. For example, to perform the unpack operation, the material management station 106 can automatically operate the pump 204 whilst the user moves the collection hose 206 around the collection area 203 to recover build material from the trolley 102. Any workflow operations the material management station 106 can perform fully automatically may be signalled to the user through the user interface without requiring user confirmation to proceed. If the workflow operation could present a potential safety risk, the otherwise fully automatic workflow operation may require user confirmation to proceed.

For example, to load the trolley 102 with build material, the user sets this workflow operation then the material management station 106 automatically launches the different operations required sequentially. The material management station 106 is controlled to send build material from the recovered build material tank 208 to the mixing tank 212. The material management station 106 is further controlled to send fresh build material from at least one of the fresh build material supply tanks 214 a, 214 b to the mixing tank 212. The material management station 106 is subsequently controlled to blend the mixture in the mixing tank 212. The mixed build material in the mixing tank 212 can then be discharged to the trolley 102. In an example, this workflow operation is completed as a batch process, and so the cycle may be continuously repeated to completely fill the trolley 102.

In some processes, a small portion (e.g. 1%) of build material can pass through the build material traps 218 a, 218 b, 218 c (e.g. the powder traps) and can travel towards the pump 204.

An additional RBMT build material trap 220 (e.g. a powder trap) may, in some examples, be located in an eleventh conduit (pump feed conduit) 292 of the conduit network that connects each of the third, fourth and seventh conduits 276, 278 and 284 to the pump 204. The additional RBMT build material trap 220 is connected to the RBMT inlet area. The additional RBMT build material trap 220 collects build material that may have passed through any of the overflow build material trap 218 a, RBMT build material trap 218 b or mixer build material trap 218 c to help prevent it from reaching the pump 204. Build material collected in the additional RBMT build material trap 220 can be transported into the recovered build material tank 208 by opening a trap-to-RBMT valve 262. The trap-to-RBMT valve 262 may be opened electronically by the controller 295. The RBMT build material trap 220 may operate in the same or similar way to each of the overflow, RBMT, and mixer build material traps 218 a, 218 b and 218 c. Build material can be transported from the RBMT build material trap 220 to the recovered build material tank 208 by gravity.

A pump filter 222 may also be located in a twelfth conduit 294 of the conduit network adjacent the pump 204. This pump filter 222 helps to collect any build material that may have passed through any of the overflow build material trap 218 a, RBMT build material trap 218 b or mixer build material trap 218 c as well as the additional RBMT build material trap 220. This helps prevent the build material from reaching the pump 204, thereby reducing the likelihood of the function of the pump 204 being impaired, which could happen if large quantities of build material were to reach it.

At any time, when the material management station 106 is to be used to process build material of a different material type, for example of a different material, the material management station circuit 200 can be controlled to implement a purging process to purge substantially all build material of a current material type from the material management station circuit 200 to the overflow tank 210. The fresh build material supply tanks 214 a, 214 b can be disconnected from the build material station circuit 200 and stored to prevent wastage of fresh building material of the current material type.

In one example, the purging process is carried out when unfused build material in the trolley 102 has already been collected using the collection hose 206 and transported either to the recovered build material tank 208 or to the overflow tank 210, or both. Alternatively, the purge process can include using the collection hose 206 to transport any unfused build material in the trolley 102 to the overflow tank 210, as described previously.

The purge process includes transporting any unfused build material in the recovered build material tank 208 to the overflow tank 210. To transport unfused build material from the recovered build material tank 208 to the overflow tank 210, the RBMT-to-sieve valve 256 and the sieve-to-mixer valve 258 in the eighth and ninth conduits 286, 288 between the recovered build material tank 208 and the mixing tank 212 can be opened as well as the mixer-to-trolley valve 260 in the tenth conduit 290 and the hose-to-overflow valve 244 in the second conduit 274 between the collection hose 206 and the overflow tank 210 and the overflow-to-pump valve 248 in the fourth conduit 278 between the pump 204 and the overflow tank 210. Any build material in the recovered build material tank 208 drops down into the sieve 216 through the eighth conduit 286 by gravity. The collection hose 206 can be connected directly to the tenth conduit 290 before or after any cleaning of the unfused build material in the trolley 102 has been completed. When the pump 204 is active, a differential pressure is provided from the pump 204 to the sieve 216 via the overflow-to-pump valve 248, the overflow tank 210, the hose-to-overflow valve 244, the collection hose 206, the mixer-to-trolley valve 260, the mixing tank 212 and the sieve-to-mixer valve 258. Build material in the recovered material tank 208 is transported to the sieve 216 by gravity via the eighth conduit 286 and the RBMT-to-sieve valve 256. That is, a pressure at the pump 204 is lower than a pressure at the sieve 216. The differential pressure enables build material from the recovered build material tank 208 to be transported to the sieve 216 and on to the overflow tank 210. At the overflow tank, build material separates from air flow and drops from the overflow inlet area into the overflow tank 210. Air (and any residual build material) continues along the fourth conduit 278 and through the overflow-to-pump valve 248 towards the pump 204, which is at a reduced pressure. It can be seen that any unfused build material in the sieve 216, the mixing tank 212 or in any of the eighth conduit 286, the ninth conduit 288, the tenth conduit 290 or the second conduit 274 may also be transported to the overflow tank 210. In this way, substantially all unfused build material in the material management station circuit 200 can be transported to the overflow tank 210.

Alternatively, the unfused build material in the recovered build material tank 208 can be transported to the trolley 102 as described previously. Subsequently, the unfused build material in the trolley 102 can be transported to the overflow tank 210, also as described previously. Thus, an alternative way to transport unfused build material from the recovered build material tank 208 to the overflow tank 210 can be provided without directly connecting the collection hose 206 to the tenth conduit 290.

The purge process can also include one or more further purging process elements where a sacrificial material is transported through any part of the conduit network of the material management station circuit 200 which may still contain at least an amount of unfused build material of a current material type. The sacrificial material can act to dislodge at least some of the current build material remaining in the material management station circuit 200. The sacrificial material in one example may be the build material of the different build material type to be subsequently used in the material management station 106. The sacrificial material may alternatively be an inert material (e.g., silica) which is not a build material. In this way, any small amount of sacrificial material remaining in the material management station 106 at the end of the purging process is unlikely to interfere with the further operation of the material management station 106.

After the purge process is completed, and substantially all the unfused build material in the material management station circuit 200 is in the overflow tank 210, the overflow tank 210 can then be removed from the material management station 106, for example for storage or disposal and a further overflow tank (not shown) can be connected to the material management station 106. The further overflow tank can be empty or the further overflow tank can contain build material previously purged from the (or another) material management station 106.

The purge process can be performed in response to a user input, or automatically. Where purging is performed automatically, the material management station circuit 200 can be controlled to implement the purging process when a trolley 102 containing a different material is slotted into the docking position 107 in the material management station 106. In this example, a material type is electronically recorded on a memory chip of the trolley 102 (or other container). The memory chip is readable by the processing circuitry of the material management station 106 to determine the material type of the material in the trolley 102 (or other container). Alternatively or additionally, the material management station circuit 200 can be controlled to implement the purging process when one or more fresh build material supply tanks 214 a, 214 b containing a different material type are connected to the material management station circuit 200. In this example, a material type is electronically recorded on a memory chip of the fresh build material supply tanks 214 a, 214 b. The memory chip is readable by the processing circuitry of the material management station 106 to determine the material type of the material in the fresh build material supply tanks 214 a, 214 b. In other examples, the material management station circuit 200 can be controlled to implement the purging process when both fresh build material supply tanks 214 a, 214 b are removed from the material management station circuit 200. It will be appreciated that the material management station 106 may be controlled to provide an indication to a user that the purging process can be performed based on the criteria discussed previously.

In order to improve efficiency of the overall 3D printing system, there are disclosed post-processing apparatuses and methods to rapidly and cleanly remove unfused powder from a container containing a volume of fused and unfused build material. Additionally, the system may also provide cooling or rapid cooling.

In one example of a post-processing apparatus, a container is provided as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The container is for receiving a build volume of fused and unfused build material from a 3D printer, the fused and unfused material defining a build volume 1162.

The build volume 1162 is a volume of processed layers of build material, of which some portions of the build material may have been fused to form 3D objects and some portions of which remain as unfused powder.

A first part of the container is provided with a connector 1142 for connection to a pressure source 1144 and a second part is provided with at least one air hole 11142, 11144.

In one example of the apparatus, the first part of the container may be a lid 1146. The lid 1146 may be provided with a connector 1142 for connecting to the pressure source 1144.

In another example of the apparatus, the first part of the container may be a door (not shown).

The first part of the container may be an integral wall of the container.

In another example, the second part of the container may be opposed to or adjacent to the first part of the container.

When the post-processing apparatus is connected to a pressure source 1144 via the connector 1142, and a pressure difference is applied between the pressure source 1144 and the interior volume, a flow of air is generated through the interior volume between the connector 1142 and the at least one air hole 11142, 11144. The flow of air draws unfused material out of the build volume 1162 in the interior volume of the container.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a post-processing apparatus in a material management system 1106.

In one example, the container may be independent of the printing machine and independent of the material management system 1106, the post-processing apparatus being provided to remove the build volume 1162 from the trolley 1102 and extract unfused build material from the interior volume of the container. A benefit of providing a separate apparatus for post-processing a build volume 1162 is that the container relieves the trolley 1102 of the build volume 1162 so that the trolley 1102 may be used for subsequent build jobs.

In another example, the container may be an integral component of a trolley 1102. The container may be the interior volume of the trolley 1102 used for building manufactured objects.

The post-processing apparatus may be provided to allow extraction of unfused material from the build volume 1162 in the interior volume of the container. The post-processing apparatus may be provided to unpack build objects from the build volume 1162 in the interior volume. Furthermore, the post-processing apparatus may be used to cool the build volume 1162.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a post-processing apparatus. A lid 1146 is provided and includes a connector 1142 for connecting to a pressure source 1144. The lid 1146 includes a connector 1142 for receiving a pipe for a pressure source 1144. The connector 1142 enables the passage of unfused build material from the interior volume therethrough. In one example of a lid 1146, a top surface extends to the second part of the container and the lid 1146 may additionally include a flange portion extending around the perimeter of the top surface. The flange may be provided to improve coupling with the second part of the container.

In one example the lid 1146 may be used with the trolley 1102, the trolley 1102 having a container forming an interior volume in which the generated 3D objects are formed. When the post-processing apparatus is an integral part of the trolley 1102, a lid 1146 may be used corresponding with a first part of the container. The lid 1146 may be positioned over the interior volume of the trolley 1102, the interior volume defining the space where the manufactured objects are printed on the build platform.

In another example, the build volume 1162 may be transferred to a separate container from the trolley 1102.

The container may be any suitable shape to contain the build volume 1162.

The post-processing apparatus has several benefits. In one example, the post-processing apparatus may be used to remove unfused build material from the build volume 1162, once the build volume 1162 has been previously cooled.

In one example, the post-processing apparatus may be used to cool the build volume 1162 and remove unfused build material. By providing a connector 1142 able to connect to a pressure source 1144 and apply a pressure difference between the interior volume and the pressure source 1144, unfused build material may be extracted through the connector 1142 and into a pipe 1144′ to be recovered. The material management system 1106 described above may be used to recover the extracted unfused material for later use in a 3D printer. Extracting unfused material from the build volume 1162 may reduce the cooling time of the generated 3D objects within the build volume 1162. One benefit of removing the unfused material is to aid cooling of the generated 3D objects within the build volume 1162. This is because removing hot unfused build material 1162 from the interior volume containing the build volume 1162 enables the generated 3D objects to cool more quickly since a portion of the hot unfused build material is withdrawn from the interior volume of the container, and therefore results in a reduction of the density of hot build volume 1162.

The connector 1142 may be positioned in the central portion of a lid 1146.

Locating the connector 1142 on the lid 1146 makes it easy to attach and detach the pressure source 1144 to the connector 1142. In another example, the connector 1142 may be located in an off-centre position. The connector 1142 may be mounted in the lid 1146 at an angle to the plane of the lid 1146 greater than or less than 90 degrees, or it may be mounted on the lid 1146 at 90 degrees to a plane of the lid 1146. Changing the angle in which the connector 1142 is mounted on the lid 1142 may change the flow path of air in the interior volume and may be used to preferentially extract unfused build material from a specific portion of the build volume 1162.

In another example. the connector 1142 may be positioned on a different part of the container.

The pressure source 1144 may be a pump such as, for example, a pneumatic pump, a suction pump, or other types of pumps, or a fan or a blower. The pressure source 1144 can be controlled so as to cause air to flow inside the interior volume of the container for extracting unfused material from the build volume 1162, or for cooling 3D generated objects in the build volume 1162. The pressure source 1144 serves to generate a pressure difference between the pressure source 1144 and the interior volume, and could be a negative pressure source or a positive pressure source.

In one example, the post-processing apparatus is provided with at least one air hole 11142, 11144. One or more residual gaps in the container between the first part and the second part of the container may themselves define one or more air holes to allow flow of air through the interior volume.

The post-processing apparatus provides benefits of extracting unfused build material in various different locations of the at least one air hole in the container.

Positioning at least one air hole in the lid of the container is most beneficial in the early stages of post-processing the build volume. This is because at least one air hole is required in the post-processing apparatus and if the interior volume is filled with the build volume, it is challenging to provide flow of air through the interior space from the connector to the at least one air hole. In the early stages, a shorter flow path between the connector and the at least one air hole is beneficial because the build volume is less likely to block the flow of air through a shorter flow path.

As the build volume becomes less dense due to the extraction of unfused material from the build volume, air holes provided in other positions in the container become free to allow the passage of air therethrough.

Air holes positioned in the lid close to the connector may be arranged so that they jet high velocity air into a perimeter of the build volume. This has the effect of eroding the perimeter of the build volume

As the perimeter of the build volume is eroded, air holes provided in other parts of the container such as close to the bottom of the container become exposed, and air can be sourced from air holes located at or near the bottom of the container.

In one example, at least one air hole 11142, 11144 is provided in a lower portion of the container. Such air holes 11142, 11144 are most effective in later stages of post-processing the build volume 1162. This is because air holes 11142, 11144 located in the lower portion of the container aid the flow of air around the build volume 1162. This additionally has a cooling effect on the 3D objects, but also the benefit that this air more readily entrains unfused material in the air flow. Entrained unfused material is removed by the air flow through the connector, or alternatively, through the at least one air hole 11142, 11144.

The at least one air hole 11142, 11144 may have a size in the range from about an average particle size of the build material to about a minimum size of the manufactured object. In another example, the at least one air hole 11142, 11144 may be provided with a mesh (not shown) in order to prevent manufactured objects from passing through the at least one air hole 11142, 11144. Air holes positioned in the lid may be smaller than air holes positioned in the lower portion of the container. A benefit of this is that the flow rate of air through smaller holes is higher than the flow rate of air through larger holes when the pressure source 1144 provides the same pressure difference.

The location of the at least one air hole 11142, 11144 can be selected to achieve a particular flow path of air through the interior volume when a pressure difference exists between the pressure source 1144 and the interior volume of the container.

A plurality of air holes may be provided in the container so that the amount of unfused material extracted from the interior volume is increased. Although the at least one air hole 11142, 11144 is shown in the lower portion of the container in the Figures, in other examples other locations of air holes may be provided as described above.

For example, for a post-processing apparatus integral with the trolley 1102, the at least one air hole may be located in the trolley 1102. In another example, the at least one air hole may be located in a build platform (not shown) of the trolley 1102.

When a pressure difference is applied between the pressure source 1144 and the interior volume, the pressure difference induces flow of air through the interior volume. The flow of air is such that unfused build material 1162 from the interior volume is drawn into the flow path of the air and is extracted from the interior volume either through the connector or through the at least one air hole 11142, 11144, depending on whether a reduced pressure is applied to the container or interior volume or an increased pressure is applied to the container or interior volume.

The lid 1146 may include a flange or channel in which to receive a portion of the wall of the container, the flange or channel forming the sides of the lid 1140.

Alternatively, the container may be provided with a flange on which the lid 1146 is clamped using clamp members.

The container may further include a guillotine member 1150 as a base of the container. The guillotine member 1150 may be used to separate the build volume 1162 from a build platform. A minor amount of the build volume 1162 may remain on the platform due to tolerances during the cutting. The majority of the build volume 1162 exists above the guillotine member 1150 after cutting. The guillotine member 1150 is selectively adjustable between an apertured configuration and a closed configuration. In the closed configuration, the guillotine member 1150 is provided with a closure by way of a plurality of through holes are closed so as to prevent the build volume 1162 from falling out of the container or interior volume. In the apertured configuration, the guillotine member 1150 has a plurality of through holes to allow passage of air and/or build material,

With the post-processing apparatus described above, an improved method of unpacking the build volume 1162 is possible.

The post-processing apparatus may further include temperature measuring devices such as thermocouples or temperature sensors. The temperature sensors may be provided at an outlet for the air so as it determine the temperature of the extracted air and unfused build material. The pressure source 1144 may be controlled responsive to a measured temperature so as to generate an appropriate air flow profile through the container. The air flow profile may be adapted to different sensed temperatures so as to control cooling of the build volume 1162. For example, a higher air flow rate may be preferred at lower temperatures so as to compensate for the lower temperature differential between the air and the build volume. An initial, low air flow rate may be preferred in some examples so as to provide a cooling effect without risking damage to fragile hot objects. Once the objects have cooled sufficiently, the air flow may be increased so as to remove unfused material and to continue the cooling process.

FIG. 4 shows a number of uses of a post-processing apparatus for extracting unfused material from a build volume 1162, and cooling a manufactured object from a 3D printer. In FIG. 4(a), a post-processing apparatus is shown being used in a natural cooling process. The natural cooling process may take up to several hours, or several tens of hours depending on numerous parameters that may include: the size and density of the build volume; ambient conditions; type of build material; fusing parameters; and thermal properties of the interior volume. Natural cooling allows the build volume 1162 to cool naturally in ambient conditions.

FIG. 4(b) shows a post-processing apparatus for use in a fast cooling method. The fast cooling method includes providing a container as described above for holding a build volume 1162 from a 3D printer, the container defining an interior volume for build volume 1162, the container having a connector 1142 for connection to a pressure source 1144 and at least one air hole 11142, 11144 to allow passage of air into or out of the container. A pressure source 1144 is connected to the connector 1142 of the container and controlled to provide a pressure difference between the pressure source 1144 and the interior volume. The pressure difference causes air to flow through the interior volume between the connector 1142 and the at least one air hole 11142, 11144 to extract unfused build material from the container.

A benefit is that the pressure source 1144 is used to cause a flow of air in the interior volume. The flow of air carries the unfused build material through the interior volume and extracts it from the build volume 1162. If the pressure source 1144 is used to create suction at the connector 1142, the unfused build material is extracted from the interior volume and passes through the connector 1142 and through a pipe. Connecting a reduced pressure source to the connector 1142 causes air to flow through the interior volume towards the connector 1142, and the connector 1142 receives and passes unfused build material from the container or interior volume to a pipe 1144′.

The hot unfused build material may be recovered for reuse in the printer. If the pressure source 1144 is used to create an air flow through the interior volume from the connector 1142 to the at least one air hole 11142, 11144, the hot unfused build material is carried through the interior volume and through the at least one air hole 11142, 11144, and extracted from the interior volume. Connecting an increased pressure source to the connector 1142 causes air to flow through the interior volume towards the at least one air hole 11142, 11144 such that unfused build material from the interior volume is extracted through the at least one air hole. In this example, the guillotine member 1150 may form the base of the container, and may allow passage of unfused build material to pass through the guillotine member 1150 to extract the unfused material from the interior space.

Again, the hot unfused build material may be recovered for later use.

The above method may considerably reduce the cooling time of manufactured objects compared to natural cooling. On average, using the above described method, the cooling time of manufactures objects drops by up to a 50% reduction in cooling time compared with natural cooling.

The method may optionally include sequentially surging or pulsing the pressure source 1144 to pull air into the interior volume, and measuring the temperature of air in the interior volume. The system is flexible enough to have different air flow profiles. A simple flow profile may be defined as “flow on”. However, other flow profiles are also envisaged. Even a “flow on” flow profile may include the pressure source 1144 applying air flow through the interior space at a different fixed speeds. In one example, the air flow initially has a low flow speed through the interior space, and the flow speed is gradually increased.

However, the air flow may be controlled to pulse the air flow in a “flow on-off-on-off” manner through the interior volume. A benefit of this is that it provides the ability to extract some unfused material while reducing the amount of cool air introduced into the interior volume as would occur during only fixed air flow.

Once the air in the interior volume reaches a predetermined temperature, the pressure source 1144 may be controlled to provide another surge or pulse of air into the container or interior volume, or a general increase in the air flow. This method provides the benefit of reducing the risk of thermal shocking in the container or interior volume. More air may be surged into the container or interior volume when the temperature in the interior volume reaches a predetermined temperature, and the air already present in the container or interior volume no longer provides a cooling effect.

The method may optionally include vibrating the build volume 1162 in the interior volume during a cooling cycle as shown in FIG. 4(c). Vibrating the lid 1146 or interior volume so that the build volume 1162 is vibrated has been found to further reduce the cooling time of the build volume 1162. On average, vibrating the lid 1146, container or interior volume provides a reduction of around 80% in the cooling time compared with natural cooling. Vibration helps break up the build volume 1162 as shown in FIG. 4(c), where solid lines indicate the build volume 1162 being broken up. A build volume 1162 that breaks up then allows unfused build material to enter the air stream more easily and allows more unfused build material to be entrained by the flow stream. Furthermore, regions of stagnant air flow may form piles of unfused material in certain regions of the build volume 1162. Vibration of the build volume 1162 may create mini avalanches that then cause the unfused powder to slide off the build volume 1162 and into the air flow.

Vibrating the lid 1146, the container or the interior volume can be performed in a number of ways. The entire lid 1146 may be vibrated. Alternatively or additionally, pulsing the pressure source 1144 to provide vibrations in the flow rate of air through the connector 1142 can provide vibrations sufficient to vibrate the build objects in the container or interior volume. The build platform of the trolley 1102 may also or alternatively be vibrated. The interior volume may be vibrated by vibrating a first or a second part of the wall structure of the container.

In another example, the container may be provided with a guillotine member 1150 as a base as shown in FIG. 4(d). The method may further include using the guillotine member 1150 to form air holes in the base of the container by selecting the aperture configuration of the guillotine member 1150 as shown in FIG. 4(d). The pressure source 1144 is controlled to provide an increased pressure source to the connector 1142 so that air flows through the connector 1142 in the lid 1146 to the guillotine member 1150 and to draw unfused build material 1162 from the container through the guillotine member 1150 such that unfused build material 1162 from the container is extracted through the plurality of air holes in the guillotine member 1150. The build volume 1162 is vibrated, as described above.

FIG. 4(e) shows the container after some of the unfused build material has been removed from the container or interior volume and the build objects remain. The shaded portion shows the build volume 1162 shown in FIG. 4(e) and shows that some of the unfused material remains and the region void of shading shows that some of the unfused build material has been removed.

FIG. 4(f) shows an example of auto-unpacking, wherein the container is rotated to unpack the manufactured objects.

Once removed from the container, the 3D objects may also be sand blasted, brushed, or be submitted to a further post-processing process to further remove any remaining unfused build material from the build objects. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for post-processing a build volume of fused and unfused material in an additive manufacturing system, the method comprising: providing a container for holding the build volume, the container comprising a connector for connecting the container to a pressure source in a material management station and at least one air hole to allow passage of air into or out of the container; receiving the build volume in the container; connecting the connector to the pressure source; and generating a flow of air through the container between the connector and the at least one air hole so as to remove unfused build material from the container.
 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein a negative pressure source is connected to the connector to generate an air flow through the container from the at least one air hole towards the connector, the air flow transporting unfused build material out of the container and into the material management station.
 3. A method according to claim 1, wherein a positive pressure source is connected to the connector to generate an air flow through the container from the connector towards the at least one air hole, the air flow transporting unfused build material out of the container and into the material management station.
 4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising vibrating the build volume in the container.
 5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the flow of air cools the build volume.
 6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the pressure source is controlled to generate variable air flow profiles through the container.
 7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the pressure source is controlled to apply a pulsed air flow through the container.
 8. A method according to claim 1, further comprising sensing a temperature of the air exiting the container and adjusting the pressure source so as vary the air flow in response to the sensed temperature.
 9. A method according to claim 1, further comprising: providing a guillotine member in the container, the guillotine member being selectively adjustable between an apertured configuration having a plurality of air holes, and a closed configuration in which the air holes are closed; selecting the apertured configuration of the guillotine member; and connecting a positive pressure source to the connector to generate an air flow through the container from the connector towards the guillotine member and to blow unfused build material from the container through the plurality of air holes in the guillotine.
 10. A post-processing housing for an additive manufacturing system, the post-processing housing comprising a container for receiving a build volume of fused and unfused build material, the container comprising: a connector for connecting the container to a pressure source; and at least one air hole to allow passage of air into or out of the container; wherein the connector is connectable to the pressure source so as to allow a flow of air through the connector and the at least one air hole so as to allow removal of unfused build material from the container.
 11. A housing as claimed in claim 10, wherein the connector is for connecting the container to a hose of a material management station.
 12. A housing as claimed in claim 11, wherein application of a negative pressure source generates a flow of air through the container from the at least one air hole to the connector, thus causing unfused build material to be extracted from the container to the material management station through the hose.
 13. A housing as claimed in claim 11, wherein application of a positive pressure source generates a flow of air through the container from the connector to the at least one air hole, thus causing unfused build material to be extracted from the container to the material management station through the at least one air hole.
 14. A housing as claimed in claim 10, wherein the connector is located in at least one of the following positions: on a lid of the container, on a door of the container.
 15. A housing as claimed in claim 10, wherein the at least one air hole is located in at least one of the following positions: a part of the container adjacent to the connector, a part of the container opposed to the connector.
 16. A housing as claimed in claim 10, wherein the container further comprises a guillotine member, the guillotine member being selectively adjustable between an apertured configuration having a plurality of air holes, and a closed configuration in which the air holes are closed.
 17. A housing as claimed in claim 10, further provided with a vibrator.
 18. A housing as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor to sense a temperature of air exiting the container, and a controller for controlling the pressure source in response to the sensed temperature.
 19. A material management apparatus for an additive manufacturing system, the apparatus comprising: a pressure source; a container having an internal void for receiving a build volume of fused and unfused build material, the container comprising a connector communicating with the internal void and at least one air hole to allow passage of air into or out of the internal void; wherein the connector is connectable to the pressure source to allow a flow of air through the internal void by way of the connector and the at least one air hole, thereby to allow removal of unfused build material from the container.
 20. An apparatus as claimed in claim 19, further comprising a temperature sensor to sense a temperature of air exiting the container, and a controller for controlling the pressure source in response to the sensed temperature. 